Industrial Engineering Intern

Proterra offers a dynamic and supportive workplace where our employees can thrive personally and professionally. With cutting-edge facilities and groundbreaking projects, Proterra offers unique opportunities to grow, collaborate, and lead transformative change in the electrification of heavy-duty transportation and equipment.

Our commitment to innovation extends beyond our battery solutions to our people, where we create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to drive change for the earth. Here at Proterra we strive to foster a culture of inclusivity, valuing diverse perspectives and encouraging bold ideas, allowing our employees to bring their full selves to work. Our employees benefit from competitive total rewards packages, and opportunities to develop professionally.

Internship Overview:

The Industrial Engineering Intern – Production Planning & Lean Improvement will support production planning optimization and daily execution through hands-on lean improvement work. The intern will play a key role in planning and leading a Kaizen event, mapping production workflows, analyzing operational data, and helping implement standardized processes that improve efficiency, visibility, and execution.

This role offers direct experience in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and data-driven operations management.

About the Role:

• Lead a Kaizen event focused on improving production planning and execution
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops to identify waste, constraints, and improvement opportunities
• Map current-state and future-state production planning workflows
• Drive implementation of agreed-upon improvements in partnership with Manufacturing, Production, and Planning teams
• Track results and outcomes using dashboards and key performance metrics
• Support internal process mapping and value stream analysis to improve data flow and production visibility
• Collect, analyze, and interpret cycle time and production data to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks
• Assist with line balancing and workflow redesign using data-backed insights
• Support production planning and execution improvements across manufacturing lines
• Help develop, document, and standardize operating procedures for:
  • Production planning processes
  • Daily production meetings
  • Performance tracking and data-driven daily management
• Document findings, recommendations, and standard work to ensure sustainability of improvements

Your Experience Includes:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field
• Strong interest in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and production planning
• Analytical mindset with the ability to work with production data and performance metrics
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment and engaging with cross-functional teams
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to manage tasks independently while collaborating with others

Preferred

• Coursework or experience with Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, or Six Sigma concepts
• Experience using Excel, dashboards, or basic data visualization tools
• Prior internship, co-op, or project experience in a manufacturing or operations environment

Benefits:

• Competitive Pay: A well-compensated, full-time internship
• Hands-On Experience: Real-world exposure to advanced battery manufacturing and facility planning
• Mentorship: Guidance from experienced manufacturing and facilities engineers
• On-Site Experience: Work directly within a high-tech production environment
• Company Swag: Proterra-branded merchandise

Designed and assembled in the United States, Proterra’s innovative battery platform offers industry-leading energy density, durability, performance and safety systems – enabling Proterra EV batteries to be the premium choice for commercial vehicles and industrial equipment.

Proterra’s battery technology offers industry-leading energy density, safety systems, and durability. Proudly designed in Silicon Valley and assembled in Greer, South Carolina, Proterra® batteries are the premier choice to electrify commercial vehicles ranging from buses and trucks to construction equipment and more. Proterra is building innovative battery technology to power a better, more sustainable world.

Location: Greer, SC Onsite

Duration: Summer 2026 (May 18th - August 7th) 

Travel: 0 < 10%

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. There is no immigration sponsorship available for this role (ex: H1-B, OPT, CPT, TN or any other employment sponsorship).

Proterra is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all Employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to, lactation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law or ordinance. Proterra participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program (E-Verify).

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.